The police urgently appeal after the two-year-old girl was taken during car theft in East London

Urgent hunt is being launched to find a two-year-old girl who was in her father's Audi when it was stolen in East London – after the car was found WITHOUT the child in it. Maria, two, sat on the front passenger seat of Audi A5 when it was taken. Her father had met an unknown person with the intention of selling him to him. But man, described as an Asian man with a slender appearance, jumped in and drove away.

Dianne Apen-sadler for Mailonline

Published:13:18 EST, January 6, 2019

|updated:13:36 hours EST, January 6, 2019

An urgent yacht has been launched to find a two-year-old girl who was in her father's Audi when it was stolen in East London earlier this afternoon. The nameless father had met a stranger in Newham to sell him the vehicle, but the man jumped into the car and drove away. Police have said that the car, a black Audi A5, was later abandoned without the toddler inside Hathaway Crescent.

An urgent yacht was started after Maria, two, was taken during a car theft (photo). Maria, two, sat on the front passenger seat of the car when it was taken. The little girl, who is Romanian, comes from the neighborhood and wore a white top and red bottom. The man who took the car is described as a slender Asian man dressed in black clothes. Anyone who knows where the maid is or who has information that can help the police should call 999 immediately. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously via 0800 555 111 or tweet the police via @MetCC. More to come.

The car, a black Audi A5, was later left on Hathaway Crescent (photo) without the toddler insideAdvertisement